Cambridge condo mixes style, comfort

This stylish new condo is one of three carved out of a long, narrow stucco house in North Cambridge that features a long front porch topped with private decks.

The end Unit 1 at 130 Rindge Ave. is the last of the condos for sale, on the market for $975,000, and it features three bedrooms and three levels of living space.

There's not much yard space around the 1875-built property, but the rebuilt front porch does overlook a large, open green space in front of the upscale Wyeth apartments next door. The house's exterior has been completely restored, with new black mullion windows and white trim.

The front porch leads into a foyer, with dark-stained red oak floors that are featured throughout the property, along with 9-foot ceilings with crown molding on the first floor.

To the left of the foyer sits a stylish recessed-lit kitchen,­ with 22 white-­painted wood cabinets and Carrara marble-topped counters with a white beadboard back­splash. There's also a separate Carrara-­topped gray-painted island with a breakfast bar that seats three as well as a double-doored pantry/storage closet. High-end stainless-steel appliances include a Bosch refrigerator and dishwasher as well as a professional-grade Viking gas stove and a matching microwave above.

Adjacent is a dining area, with glass doors that open out to a back porch and down to a private fenced-in patio.

Back inside, to the right of the foyer sits a good-sized recessed-lit living room with crown molding and four six-over-six windows on three sides.

Oak stairs lead up to three oak-floored bedrooms on the second floor with a window at the top of the landing.

The master suite covers half the second floor, with oak flooring, crown molding and recessed lighting. Two front windows bring in light and a pair of glass doors lead out to a private deck over the front porch with views of the open space next door.

The master suite has four closets, all with built-in shelving. The stylish en-suite bathroom is completely marble finished — from its small tile floors to gray tile around a deep soaking tub and shower. And there's a Carrara-topped double-sink wood vanity.

The second bedroom features two windows, two closets and an overhead light/fan. Across the hall sits a small third bedroom best suited as a home office or nursery. It has one deep closet.

The second full bathroom on this floor is equally stylish, with green-and-white small tile marble floors and white marble tile surround with small green tile inlay around a deep soaking tub and a shower. This bathroom also has a Carrara marble-topped wood vanity.

The unit has a fully finished basement, with oak stairs leading down to a carpeted family room.

The large family room has one window and two closets. One holds the unit's two-zone high-efficiency heating and cooling system, and the other has a washer-dryer hookup as well as a Navien tankless water heater.

There's a full bathroom on this level, with small white ceramic tile floors and white ceramic tile surround for a deep soaking tub and shower.

The condo comes with two outdoor parking spaces on a long shared driveway.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge upholds ride-share rules

A bid by taxi medallion owners to halt regulations that have legalized transportation companies including Uber and Lyft has been rejected by a federal judge.

"Plaintiffs have failed to convince this court that medallion owners have a protected property interest in the market value of their medallions," U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton said yesterday in a court order. "Purchasing a taxicab medallion does not entitle the buyer to 'an unalterable monopoly' over the taxicab market or the overall for-hire transportation market,"

Gorton said the Boston Taxi Owners Association was not convincing in its argument for a preliminary injunction, rejecting its claims of violation of equal protection and "unconstitutional taking of their property."

The association has sued both Boston and the state in an effort to halt state regulations for Uber and Lyft that it sees as unfair. Initial statewide regulations for so-called transportation network companies went into effect last month, but require legislative approval.

"In order for Massachusetts' economy to thrive, we must continue to embrace technology and innovation as a means for growth," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Boston is in the middle of its own regulatory process, with a Taxi Advisory Committee that has been looking at the issue for months. A spokeswoman for Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the city is pleased with the decision.

A lawyer for the Taxi Owners Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Audi A4 earns a high grade

The efficient 2015 Audi A4 with go-anywhere, all-wheel-drive is a solid choice for the New Englander not willing to compromise on performance or craftsmanship.

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system intuitively sends power to the wheels with the most grip. Although our tester had 19-inch, low-profile summer tires, I found the sedan provided superb traction on both wet and snow-covered roads.

The quattro system, which has been around for more than 35 years, was equally impressive on dry roads, giving the A4 sharp handling with a decent amount of feedback and providing the driver with an intimate connection to the road. The A4's sport-tuned suspension settled through bumps on the corners and the sedan's electronic, speed-sensitive steering had a heavy, precision feel.

Under the hood, the A4 packs a turbocharged 2.0- liter, inline four-cylinder engine that cranks out 220 horsepower. Audi offers three transmission choices with the A4: a six-speed manual, a continuously variable automatic, and an eight-speed automatic with manual override. My tester had the eight speed with paddle shifters, which allowed me to take control of the sedan, especially through the corners and on steep highway ramps. The multitude of gears allowed for smooth downshifting and maximized the transfer of power from the efficient engine. The A4 balances a respectable amount power with decent fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive sedan. The A4 did 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on highway.

Silver and gray trim highlighted my A4's black interior. Leather heated front seats were firm and supportive. The centerpiece of the A4's cockpit was a distinctive flat bottom steering wheel, which was part of the $1,500 sport plus package that included the paddle shifters, a black headliner, and 19-inch, 5-arm aluminum wheels with a titanium finish. Three-zone climate controls allowed driver and passengers to individualize the cabin temperature. While the A4 is listed as a five-seater, my children looked cramped in the backseat for the lift to school. The rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split.

Red backlighting on switches and buttons played well against the dark interior. A 7-inch display screen was neatly integrated into the A4's dashboard. Navigation, stereo, cellphone, and vehicle settings were controlled with a joystick knob surrounded by an array of buttons on the center console. While the center stack was imposing at first glance, I found operating the A4's infotainment features intuitive and straightforward. The cluster of controls reduced the need to drill down through layers of menus. A push-button ignition button was located beside a conveniently placed electronic parking brake control.

My only dislike with the A4 was the location of the cruise control stalk behind the steering wheel. I guess it's just a distinctive quirk with Audi, but cruise control is much easier to use when located on the steering wheel.

The solidly built Audi A4 starts at $37,600 and my tester topped out just over $46,000, which puts it in the mix with the other premium sedans from Germany, such as the BMW 3-series or Mercedes-Benz C300. The A4 is also worth a test drive when considering the Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS, or Infiniti Q50.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Partners prescribes Dr. David Torchiana as new CEO

Partners HealthCare has named its newest chief executive officer after a four-month search — as the health care giant deals with a judge's rejection of a deal that would have allowed a merger between Partners and three regional hospitals.

Dr. David Torchiana will be the fifth CEO since the founding of Partners in 1994 and will serve as the president and CEO on a date to be determined in March, the organization said. He will succeed Dr. Gary Gottlieb, who is expected to step down by July 1 after five years at the helm.

Torchiana now serves as the chairman and CEO of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, the largest such group in New England with more than 2,000 physicians.

"I am looking forward to my new role at Partners HealthCare as its next president and CEO," Torchiana said in a statement. "Improving patient care is the reason our institutions exist."

The announcement follows a blow to Partners' expansion plans late last month, when the proposed merger with South Shore, Lawrence Memorial and Melrose-Wakefield hospitals was nixed by Judge Janet Sanders. Attorney General Maura Healey has threatened to sue if Partners goes ahead without a negotiated deal to prevent costs from going up.

Torchiana is a Yale graduate who went on to Harvard Medical School, where he is an associate professor of surgery. He completed his residencies at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Dr. Torchiana possesses the instincts and the political savvy to be an outstanding leader for Partners," said Edward Lawrence, chairman of the board of directors.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Ticker

Baker to address 
Boston chamber

Gov. Charlie Baker will ask business leaders for their best ideas on technology, education and regulation reform when he addresses the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this morning for the first time since being sworn in, an administration official told the Herald.

Baker is expected to discuss how the Bay State's economy is partly affected by factors beyond the state's control, so it must work hard to pursue things it can guide, such as energy policy, education and regional economies, the official said.

The speech will also mention several news stories that occurred since Baker was sworn in, including the arrests of Interstate 93 protesters, last week's blizzard and Boston's naming as a finalist to host the 2024 Summer Games.

New Balance unveils soccer division

Boston's New Balance yesterday announced a new soccer division — New Balance Football — that will take over the sponsorship deals its Warrior Sports division had to provide "kits," training gear and cleats to the Liverpool, Stoke City, Porto and Sevilla football clubs.

New Balance Football also unveiled sponsorship deals with Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, Valencia's Alvaro Negredo and Manchester City's Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and Fernando Reges.

Uber legislation in works

Gov. Charlie Baker will create licensing regulations around for-hire car services such as Uber and Lyft in an effort to protect riders' and drivers' safety, the administration announced yesterday. Baker said drivers for the ride-for-hire companies could continue to operate while his administration works on legislation.

The governor will work with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone — two cities where the service is commonly used — to draft the regulations. The licensing proposal will require background checks of drivers, proper safety checks of all vehicles and adequate insurance coverage.

TODAY

 Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

 Labor Department releases fourth-quarter productivity data.

 Commerce Department releases international trade data for December.

TOMORROW

 Labor Department releases employment data for January.

 Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for December.

THE SHUFFLE

Ian Roffman has been named chairman of litigation at the law firm Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP. Roffman practices in the securities enforcement and litigation group, counseling clients through complex and often high-profile cases involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to joining Nutter, Roffman was senior trial counsel in the SEC's Boston office.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bridj-ing gap between Uber costs, T woes

The pop-up bus service Bridj is offering free rides in the Boston area through tomorrow night, a stark contrast to the ride-sharing service Uber, which capitalized on long MBTA delays this week by more than tripling fares at times.

Bridj's payment processor requires the company to list trips — which ordinarily cost between $3 and $5, depending on the time of day — for at least 50 cents, but all trips are free this week when cus­tomers download Bridj's app and use the promo code "isitsummer," spokesman Ryan Kelly said.

"We lose thousands of dollars every day by doing this, but hopefully will gain new customers who've never tried our service before," said CEO Matthew George.

"And it's just the right thing to do. When you combine this unprecedented bout of terrible weather with the T's aging infrastructure, that really disrupts transit service. For some people, that's just an inconvenience; for others, not being able to get to work can mean not being able to pay their rent."

But during the evening commute Tuesday, many commuters who hadn't heard of Bridj, which opened in Boston only last June, and tried to get around via Uber received an unwelcome surprise: Fares had climbed 3.2 times the normal rates.

"Dynamic pricing ensures a reliable ride at the push of a button, whenever and wherever you need it, especially at times when other transportation options aren't available," Uber spokesman Matthew Wing said in an email. "And remember that when the weather's bad, you can use our in-app Fare Split feature to share your ride and cut the fare in half."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge considers blocking law

A federal judge is mulling whether to block proposed legislation that would regulate ride-for-hire services Uber and Lyft and allow them to work around state hackney laws.

At a hearing yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston, lawyers for licensed taxi driver Joseph Pierre of Brockton, Raphael Ophir of Jamaica Plain, and the Boston Taxi Owners Association called for an emergency injunction against the legislation.

They argued it would create a two-tier system which would harm their business by saddling taxi drivers and owners with "oppressive" regulations, but allowing the other services to operate with little oversight.

Under the proposed rules, companies such as Uber and Lyft need to be certified by the state Department of Public Utilities, have insurance and run background checks on drivers, who would be banned if convicted of any of a number of crimes within the prior decade.

"This massive illegal operation puts the public and consumers at risk in many ways," the lawsuit states. "The use of a smartphone app does not change the nature of the business. It does not alter the need for uniform rules for all who engage in it. Use of an app merely provides an alternate means of dispatch and payment."

The lawsuit goes on to say taxi owners went along with the law because the city promised in return that taxi owners and the taxi affiliations and drivers who operate taxis would have the exclusive right to provide ride-for-hire transportation to individual passengers." Judge Nathaniel Gorton has "taken the matter under advisement."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toyota raises forecast after quarterly profit up on weak yen

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No. 1 automaker, raised its earnings forecast Wednesday after third quarter profit jumped 14 percent, boosted by a weak yen.

Toyota reported a better-than-expected 600 billion yen ($5.1 billion) profit for the three months through December. Quarterly sales of 7.17 trillion yen ($61 billion) were up 9 percent year-on-year.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast a quarterly profit of 540 billion yen ($4.6 billion).

The Japanese automaker, which makes the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury model, expects a profit of 2.13 trillion yen ($18 billion) for the fiscal year through March, up nearly 17 percent from the previous year. It had previously projected a 2 trillion yen ($17 billion) profit.

Toyota has held the top spot in global vehicle sales for three years straight, selling 10.23 million vehicles last year, beating Volkswagen AG of Germany and U.S. rival General Motors Co.

Toyota's bottom line has gotten a lift from the cheap yen, although Managing Officer Taku Sasaki also credited cost cuts.

The dollar averaged about 114 yen for the fiscal third quarter, while it cost 100 yen the same period the previous year. It has risen to about 118 yen recently.

Toyota said it added 145 billion yen ($1.2 billion) to its quarterly operating profit from the foreign exchange rate, while gaining 80 billion yen ($680 million) from cost cuts.

The latest results show Toyota in robust financial health as it embarks on renewed growth, after putting such ambitions on hold during serious setbacks suffered over a massive recall scandal, fines from U.S. authorities and many lawsuits, especially in the U.S. since 2009.

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, a U.S. federal jury decided the design of the 1996 Toyota Camry had a dangerous defect that was partly to blame for a fatal 2006 crash, and ordered Toyota to pay nearly $11 million to victims.

But Toyota's global brand has largely recovered the recall crisis and U.S. sales have been doing well. Cash-rich Toyota is also likely able to afford the lawsuits.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda has compared the company's situation to a landing between two flights of stairs, while cautioning that the next climb would remain cautious but sustainable.

Challenges are great, with Volkswagen and others right on Toyota's heels in huge overseas markets such as China.

Toyota is also trying to lead a move toward what it calls a "hydrogen society," centered on fuel cell vehicles, which run on the power produced when hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to produce water.

Hydrogen can also provide heat and electricity for homes, if not, entire towns. Other automakers are also working on fuel cells.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sony trims full-year loss forecast to $1.4 billion

TOKYO — Sony Corp. trimmed its forecast of losses on Wednesday and said it doesn't expect the hack at Sony Pictures to hurt its finances overall.

The entertainment and electronics giant delayed the announcement of its earnings for the October-December quarter, citing internal difficulties arising from the hack at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

But it issued new earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending in March and said it was benefiting from strong sales of gaming consoles, other devices and network services.

The company is forecasting a loss of 170 billion yen ($1.4 billion) for the fiscal year, an improvement from its earlier forecast of a 230 billion yen loss.

The company reported a 40 billion yen loss last fiscal year.

It said stronger than expected sales of the PlayStation 4, higher network services revenue, robust sales of devices and a slight improvement in its financial services business will help counter a decline in its mobile business.

Both Sony's music and movies businesses benefited from a weakening in the Japanese yen, which improves profit earned in dollars when it is brought back to Japan.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ink Block area to get boutique hotel

A contemporary 200-room, design-focused boutique hotel is planned for Boston's South End, next to the Ink Block project that's helping to reshape a once drab area now undergoing significant redevelopment.

Newton's National Development hopes to start construction this year on an AC Hotel by Marriott on the former FW Webb and Independent Taxi sites on Albany Street, with a 2017 targeted opening.

"We've been trying to ... create an interesting and exciting urban community, and the hotel really supports the restaurants and retail activity that we're creating," managing partner Ted Tye said.

The Ink Block occupies the former Boston Herald headquarters site and includes a new Whole Foods Market and apartments. The Sepia condos are set to open in September, and multiple retail shops and restaurants are in the works. Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell has a minority stake in the development.

As a select-service property, the hotel will not have its own large restaurant or meeting space, but will have a fitness facility and small bar, with parking at the Ink Block.

"We'll really focus on using the restaurants within Ink Block for the hotel," Tye said. "I want the activity of the Ink Block to be a real draw for (guests) of the hotel who want to stay down in this neighborhood."

National Development will own the hotel as a Marriott franchisee and hire an outside company to manage it.

AC Hotels started in Europe in 1998 before affiliating with Marriott in 2011. The chain has one U.S. hotel, in New Orleans, with others slated to open this year in Washington, D.C., Miami Beach and Kansas City.

It's a great brand for urban locations, particularly hip and gentrified ones, according to Andrea Foster, senior vice president and New England practice manager for PKF Consulting.

"The South End is a good location for an AC Hotel within Boston," she said.

And now is a good time in the hotel industry to build.

"We're still seeing improvements in performance (in the Boston market), and now we're seeing a lot of development happening because occupancy and rate increases are so good," Foster said.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More